Criticism of judicial officers and the system of transferring cases is permissible as long as it does not interfere with the administration of justice or undermine the authority of the courts.

( 1 ) THE Maharaja of Kapurthala owned considerable tracts of forest lands in the Bahraich district. Some of this land in pargana Ikauna was cleared and large tenancies were created in favour of some Punjabees, who had migrated and settled down in Bahraich, some Muslims and others, including important members of the district Congress Organization. The tenants mostly reserved portions of their holdings in their own cultivation and let oat the rest to sub-tenants.

( 2 ) AFTER a time trouble arose between the tenants and their sub-tenants which resulted in the forcible occupation of land, riot, murder and other crimes. The Punjabee and Muslim tenants felt that these troubles were engineered by Pandit Janardan Prasad, a so-called Communist, and pandit Sobha Ram, the Secretary of the Ikauna Congress Committee. They began to agitate for action and expressed their readiness to offer concessions to the subtenants, and were prepared to accept only one third of the produce instead of a half or even "a fixed grain rent--as is prevalent in the tenancies of the Honble Minister of Revenue, and Pandit Bhagwan Din M. L. A " With a view to get some settlement effected, the tenants approached the District authorities, the commissioner, the President of the All India Congress Committee, and, finally, the Honble premier of the Province. In order to seek an interview with the Honble Premier Mr. B. S. Nayyar, one of the tenants, wrote a letter to Dr. C. D. Pandey, on 13th June 1948. Dr. Pandey replied on 17th June abating that the Premier would grant an interview on any day between 3rd and 7th July at Lucknow.

( 3 ) IT appears that, thereafter, the Honble Premier visited Bahraich and addressed a public meeting on 25th June, and in the course of his address, he expressed his readiness to take action against all and sundry, including officials, should it be shown to him that such action was called for. Thereafter the tenants held a meeting at Bahraich on 28th of June and passed certain resolutions. They authorised Mr. B. S. Nayyar to prepare a memorandum for the consideration of the Honble Premier and to send an advance copy. Mr. B. S. Nayyar accordingly prepared four documents which he described as follows:

" (1 ). Memoradum (2 ). Brief history of sub-tenants agitation and some useful suggestions. (3)Copy of resolutions dated 28th June 1948. (4) Instances of self-gain by Pandit Sobha Ram, instances of victimisation of Punjabees etc. "

( 4 ) HE seat all these four documents as well as a copy of a letter addresed by eight persons, including himself, to the President of the All India Congress Committee, in February 1948, to the private Secretary to the Honble Premier under his own covering letter.

( 5 ) IT does not appear what action, if any, was taken by the Honble Premier on this representation nor is it material to know this for the purposed of the present proceedings. On 24th December 1948, however, the District Magistrate wrote to the Deputy-Registrar of this Court at Lucknow, drawing attention to certain remarks contained in the fourth of the papers mentioned above and in the letter to the President of the All India Congress Committee, and asking for action against mr. B. S. Nayyar for contempt of Court. The learned District Magistrate writes:

"shri B. S. Nayyar wrote a letter to the Private Secretary to the Honble Premier U. P. I herewith enclose a certified copy of his letter together with its enclosures. It will be seen that Shri B. S nayyar makes the toll owing; allegations under the heading support by the District High command in the fourth enclosure to his latte- giving instances of self-gain by Pandit Sobha Ram ex Secretary Congress Mandal Committee, Ikauna. "

(1) Reward of such activities of Pandit Sobha Ram even his acquittal in a theft case of a buffalo, etc.

(2) Tampering of records as in the case of Mohendra Singhs case and other instances. (3) Engaging of one lawyer in most of such cases of sub-tenants who is the nephew of th